Preparation for Ramadan

To my muslim readers and friends, I would like to dedicate this article to you. It is also a reminder to me and my family.

Today already 24th Syaaban in the month of Islam and only 6 days, we will be fasting in the month of Ramadan, insyaAllah. So what is our preparation for the coming month of Baraqah? When our family's birthday approaching, we always busy thinking of the preparation. When  national day is drawing near, we are busy organizing things for the coming occasion, but what is our preparation for the coming Ramadan? In a verse of the Quran, surah Al-Baqarah 2:183

O you who believe! Observing al-sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious).

Allah Almighty also says, (The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong).) (Al-Baqarah 2: 185)

Allah Hu Akhbar. As the beautiful month of Ramadan approaches this year, there are several things Muslim can do to prepare themselves spiritually and physically for the month-long period of fasting which is obligatory upon all able-bodied Muslims who have reached the age of maturity. Every Muslim should prepare himself to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan by strengthening his relationship with the Qur’an, busying himself with the spirit of fasting, and recharging his spiritual battery to prepare himself to make the whole blessed month of Ramadan a real occasion of sincere obedience.
Therefore, in order to benefit from Ramadan, we may do well to prepare for it by opening our hearts and minds to embrace it. Here are some tips that we should observed:

1. Keep praying daily that Allah gives us the chance and grants us good health that will enable us to fast the holy month.

2. Start repenting and seeking the forgiveness of the Almighty for all our wrongdoings before Ramadan.

3. Seek the strength from Allah to fast in the way that He likes and wants.

4. Seek forgiveness from all members of your family, workmates, neighbors, and relatives for any wrongdoing against them.

5. Refrain from backbiting, slandering, and unlawful mixing with people.

6. Clean your heart and soul from envy, jealousy, hypocrisy, arrogance, and all heart diseases.

7. Seek the blessings of your parents, if they are alive, and their forgiveness for your shortcomings towards them.

8. Increase your du`aa' and commitment to your daily duties and obligations.

Let us pray that we come out of Ramadan with our faith recharged, gaining strength in our faith and commitment and relationship with Allah.

Allow me to share this beautiful hadith about Ramadan.

Salman radiallahuanhu reports: “On the last day of Syaaban Rasullulah s.a.w addressed us and said, “O people, here comes over you a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than one thousand months. It is a month in which Allah has made compulsory that the days should be observed by fasting. And he has made sunnah the Tarawih by the night. Whosoever intends drawing nearer to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for him shall be the reward like him who had performed a fardhu in any other time. And whoever performs a fardhu, for him shall be the reward of the seventy fardhu in any other time. This is indeed the month of patience and the reward for true patience is Jannah (paradise). It is the month of sympathy with a fellowman. It is the month wherein a true believer's rizq (benefits) is increased. Whosoever feeds another man who are fasting, in order to break the fast (at sunset), for him there shall be forgiveness for his sins and emancipation from the fire of jahannam (hell), and for him shall be the same reward as him (whom he fed) without that person's reward being decreased in the least”.

Then we said, “O Rasulullah, not all of us possess the means whereby we could give a fasting person food to break his fast”.  Rasulullah replied, “Allah grants this same reward to him who gives a fasting person food to break his fast even for a mere dates or a cup of water or a sip of milk”.

“This is a month, where the earlier portion of the month brings Allah's mercy, the middle part of the month of which brings His forgiveness and the last portion of the month which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell)”.

“Whosoever lessens the burden of His servants (bondsmen) or workers in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of Jahannam”.

“And in this month four (4) things you should continue to perform in great number, two (2) of which shall be to please Allah while the other two (2) shall be those without which you could not do. Those which to please Allah, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no deity to worship except Allah (i.e. recite the Kalimah Toyibah: LAA ILAAHA IL'LAL LAAH) and make much ISTIGHFAAR (beg of Allah's forgiveness with ASTAGHFIRULLAH)”.

“And as for those without which you could not do, you should beg of Allah, entrance into Jannah (paradise) and seek refuge in Him from Jahannam (hell)”. 

• http://www.submission.org/ramadan/about-R.html
• http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/story.htm
• http://www.ramadan.co.uk/index.php
• http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0609-3120
• http://www.islamonline.net/english/ramadan1422/2001/world/article14.shtml
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
• http://www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/09.asp (The beautiful photo is from www.ezsoftech.com/islamic/)